I wonder if perhaps Eric's problem is twofold. First, like many journalists, he's a little too lazy. But most importantly, he's been drinking his own bathwater for too long and he's come to think that he's above the rules the rest of us live by. There's a certain intellectual sloppiness at play here and he doesn't seem to like being called on it.

Actually, I don't think Alterman is blogging at all. I think he sits down and types out his little bits and then hands them to some intern or somesuch who then puts them into a blog-thing-like content manager. And nobody has a clue what they are doing.

I think that Andrew Sullivan needs to look at the good Doctor's thrashing for some pointers in his next bitter exchange with Alterman.

I'm so very happy you mentioned #5, Dr. Weevil. I myself had considered sending him an email suggesting he consult with a makeover specialist - after all, his blog has a budget, doesn't it?

All in all, I agree with Mr. Quick. He doesn't blog - he emails to an intern. More paper-models of writing.

Alterman never corrects errors he introduces at The Nation or in his MSNBC column, why should he start correcting his errors now?

I like Alterman's blog. He may misfire sometimes, but his blog is smart, substantive, and well-written. It has rapidly become one of my favorites.

I was going to say that I thought many of your complaints were petty (unfixed typos, not linking someone's "front page"), but then I read some of your recent posts and realized, as a new visitor to your blog, that this sort of thing is your bailiwick: debating "ajouter à" versus "ajouter sur", quotation marks versus a block quote, and the Weekly Standard's psuedo-intellectualism (sic).

Finally, self-deprecate all you want, but telling somebody that he shouldn't show his face because, in your opinion, it's not attractive enough? I don't care how evil you are. That's just not cool, Dr. Weevil. There is a certain consistency here, though, in elevating form over substance.

P.S. I thought "QuasiMoDo" was funny. (That wasn't a looks slam too, was it?)

When I want to be anonymous I make my email something like p84269317@--- too... Lying is transparent in the blogworld. Alterman tells lies. He crafts quotes and scenarios in ways that are nothing short of telling lies. (Bush in Brazil: "You got blacks here too?" Link to an untranslated German language site...) He writes a post about Barry Bonds, and it's transparent he doesn't give a rat's a-- about Barry Bonds but wants to insinuate racism on the part of all-American baseball fans because Barry is not popular... Transparent and really rather typically filthy same-old same-old from the dead but still zombie-ing along left...

I've added Altercation to my list of blog favourites... it's clever, witty and edgy. I'm there for the content and his sharp style of writing, but I have to admit it bugs the hell out of me to have to stumble over the typos at Altercation, which seem to be popping up on a consistent basis, and more often than the weeds on my front lawn.

However, Alterman's "blog" is one of the few that I visit on a daily basis. BTW, it's one thing to critique the *quality* of a photo, it's altogether another thing to aim and throw judgmental darts at whether the subject of that photo is pretty enough to qualify in having their photo posted on their own site. C'mon Doc, that blows.

Now, the good Doctor offers realistic and honest advice when he points out the issue of broken and dated links. It's a nuisance and they've gotta get that and the typo thang together. I agree with Bill (Quick) in that Alterman's likely not "blogging" per se, but pour moi, in the end, it's the content, plus the bloggers' take on things (whether I always agree or not) and the quality of writing that's at the root of my return visits to my "fav" blogs, and for that, Alterman's got it goin' on.

Just one question; Is Alterman seven or eight years old? What a complete joke of a human being.

February 18, 2003, 7:50 ET.
Does Mr. Eric Alterman have email?
If he does, please address it to me.

February 18, 2003, 7:54 PM (ET)
My email is flint205@highstream.net.

Eric Alterman is a pathetic little cretin who
responds with obscenities or vulgarities to any
substantial criticism, he is a hit and run
COWARD, a total piece of asswipe who is as ugly
on the inside as he is physically.

Mike, I hope you were being facetious, because you are responding with obscenities and vulgarities yourself.

"Eric Alterman is a pathetic little cretin who
responds with obscenities or vulgarities to any
substantial criticism, he is a hit and run
COWARD, a total piece of asswipe who is as ugly
on the inside as he is physically."

Spelling seems to be more important than content or political discussion. This isn't 6th grade where you get points for spelling and grammar. This is life and if you uderstood what was written, then that's the point. Even a few vulgar words in the right place are also... life.

Mike, you're still a racist. And a hateful name-calling one at that.